Hello Pontelli,
There are a vast number of interesting distributed computing projects. A good list can be found at http://www.distributedcomputing.info/projects.html

These projects are different. For example, HCC is concentrating on developing an algorithm for computer imaging of high-throughput crystallization samples of proteins. An automated process might quickly produce several thousand samples in which slightly different conditions were applied to a protein solution in an attempt to produce a crystal which could then be run through an X-ray machine to determine its shape. This requires a computer image analysis of each sample to determine clues for designing the conditions to apply to the next batch until a crystal is finally produced. Currently a doctoral student might spend years to produce 1 or 2 or 3 protein crystals. But cancer scientists are trying to find the shape of thousands of proteins in cancer cells.

This is VERY different from Folding@Home, which is trying to develop better methods of calculating protein shapes from the basics of quantum mechanics.

World Community Grid is cheerfully supporting a varied shotgun blast of approaches. If a group of scientists can produce a convincing research plan that survives the scrutiny of their peers and serves a humanitarian purpose, then we are willing to aid them with our computers. Efficiency is hard to determine before a problem is actually solved. Look over the list of distributed computer projects on the web site I listed at the start of this post, then treat it as a roulette wheel. Which do YOU think is more efficient - Red 32 or Black 17?


Lawrence

One other way people tend to chose is what project is near and dear to their heart for instance if a loved one died from cancer, they might crunch for a project looking in that. If they are concerned about Malaria they might crunch for one of the projects looking into that etc etc. In the beginning MalariaControl.net was turning the results we crunchers returned and putting them into actual field work sometimes in as little as TWO WEEKS!!! Research is a little more difficult now and the turn around is longer, the research is less exact etc, etc and the turn around time is much longer. Projects like MilkyWay, which is mapping the MilkyWay Galaxy, is using the data right away, projects like Rosetta is more into finding a better way to do the research, so its turn around is MUCH longer. The climate project is using those models in a timely manner, but they used to have units that would crunch on your pc for OVER A YEAR before being returned to the project! Each project evolves over time and what can be said today cannot necessarily be said next year or even next month! WCG IS a project that has at its base a solid set of 'rules' that it operates under, these tend to keep the different projects on path and on goal for the long term. But in the end it is YOUR pc we are talking about...you get to chose where to donate your time and effort!